Carson (Dangerous Doms 4)

“Careful walking barefoot,” I tell her when I join them. “You could hurt yourself.”

Megan smiles. “The gardener’s impeccable, Carson,” she says. “And anyway, you can’t earth with shoes on. I’m earthing.”

“What the hell is earthing?”

“It’s when you gain healing energy from the earth,” she says. “You spend just a little time barefoot outside. Try it, it works.”

“Don’t need to walk barefoot through grass to reinvigorate my senses, thank you,” I tell her, and I must make some sort of face, because she laughs out loud.

“We’ll loosen you up, yet, Carson,” she says. “You wait and see.”

“Mmm,” I say in her ear. “You can loosen me up, and I’ll tie you up. Sound good?”

She shivers. “Aye,” she says with a hoarse whisper. I love how easily I can affect her.

We walk by the shore with Breena, and later when she goes with her new nanny I take Megan to the shooting range. I love spending time with her like this, just the two of us together. I love holding her in my arms and showing her how to aim her weapon. I love how she sighs against me and nestles right in.

“I’m sorry I thought you a spy,” she says one day, while we’re eating lunch at the little Italian restaurant in town. “I… feel a little guilty that I initially made up my mind that I’d stay with you just so I could see if you were a spy for my family.”

I nod. “I wish you hadn’t felt the need to do it, either, but at the same time, I understand,” I tell her.

“I’m glad,” she says. “And going forward, it’s crucial that the two of us promise we won’t lie to one another. I should’ve showed you the diary immediately.”

“Aye,” I tell her. “And while I promise I won’t lie to you, Megan, it is important you keep in mind that I can’t divulge everything the Clan does.”

“Understood,” she says. “I mean, we’ve discussed it before, and the girls and I have as well. I just mean that you need to tell me what you’re thinking.” She rolls her eyes. “I know, one of the hardest tasks for an alpha male.”

I smile at her. “Still, not impossible,” I tell her. “I can handle that.”

“Good,” she says. “So now let’s talk about something. Honestly, shall we?”

I eye her suspiciously. “Was this a set-up?”

“Yes,” she says. I can’t help but chuckle with her brutal honesty. “I can tell you’ve been sort of in your head the past few days,” she says. “And I want to know why.”

I drag a slice of bread through the flavored olive oil in front of me, take a bite, and chew for a moment before I answer. It isn’t because I’m trying to evade the truth, but because I’m trying to frame my answer.

“Truth is, love, I’m not quite sure,” I tell her honestly. “I’ve spent the past months completely consumed with the need for vengeance. And before that? I thought the rest of my life I’d be with Eve.”

She doesn’t even flinch at my words but listens with a nod. “Ah, well that makes sense,” she says. “And now what?”

“Exactly,” I tell her. “Now what?”

She swirls her spaghetti on her fork, then lifts it to her mouth and takes a thoughtful bite. She chews for a moment, then nods her head.

“It’s a good question,” she says. “I’ve wondered that myself. For starters, we need to decide where we are.”

My phone buzzes. I glance down, as it’s from Keenan.

Brother, meet me up at the mansion? Would like to have a word.

“It’s Keenan,” I tell her. “He wants a word. Want to join me?”

She nods. “Absolutely.”

“As for what’s next,” I tell her, as we wait for our check to arrive. “It is indeed something we have to discuss.”

She knows I love her. I know she loves me. But that doesn’t simplify our next steps. As a couple within the Clan, whatever we decide needs to be in the best interest of the brotherhood, as well. Thankfully, as a Clan family member, she’ll know that as well.

We head back up to the mansion, and when we arrive, Keenan meets us in the garden. It’s unusual for him to be at leisure like this.

“Didn’t expect to see you lounging, cousin,” Megan says with a teasing smile. “Are you really? It’s so unlike you.”

He grimaces but chuckles. “Caitlin says I’ve gotten too high strung and need to take a little break once in a while.”

Megan grins and wags a finger at me. “See? ’Tis the job of a Clan woman to see her man doesn’t burn himself into the bloody ground.”

I grin at her. “Aye.”

“Have a seat,” Keenan says with a smile, waving to the empty stone benches that sit under the overhanging trellis. I sit, and Megan sits beside me. I reach for her hand, entwining my fingers through hers. This feels important. It’s rare he calls us to him individually.